22nd April, 2022
How to Get Involved in Local Community Projects as a High School Student
You can become an advocate for social causes that impact those in your community and around the world. With so many options, you may be wondering how to take the first steps. Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities that will allow you to make positive changes in your community. Some opportunities are available through your school while finding others within the community will require a little research.
Before you choose a project, you should first think about you want to get involved. Here are four ways to get started.
1. Figure Out What You’re Interested In
What are you passionate about? Chances are high that the cause or interest you hold close to your heart has a volunteer experience associated with it. For example, if you love animals, you may consider volunteering at a local shelter. If you’re passionate about the environment, you can join a volunteer group that removes garbage from roadsides or plants new trees in local parks. If you love building and working with your hands, you may want to help build or remodel homes damaged by a fire, flood, or another disaster.
Are you unsure about which type of volunteer experience would interest you the most? Here are a few examples of common volunteer categories:
- Healthcare
- Arts
- Education
- Poverty
- Senior citizen services
- Women’s services
- Hunger
- Mental health services
This list is only a small sample of the many volunteer opportunities that may be available in your community. Even if you’re still not certain about which experience is right for you, that’s OK! It takes time to discover what you truly enjoy and care about, and the only way to do so is by trying.
2. Join Clubs or Other Extracurricular Activities
You don’t need to go far to discover a way that you can positively impact your community. In fact, you may only need to take a walk down the hallway at school.
A great way to discover and develop a passion for volunteering is to participate in clubs or extracurricular activities that are already involved in local community projects. The clubs your high school sponsors may already have established ways to get involved in your local community. Some of them may be directly focused on community improvement projects, while others devote time each year to volunteering for a specific cause.
If possible, try to volunteer or take on leadership positions in these clubs and organizations. These roles will give you more responsibility and allow you to have more influence during the decision-making process. When you act as a leader, you can encourage your group to increase the ways you give back to the community. If the organization or club doesn’t currently have a cause that it supports, you can start the discussion and help the group choose which volunteer opportunities you’ll complete together throughout the year.
3. Participate in Class Discussions and Be an Active Learner
Think about how much you’ve learned throughout your years in school—both in and out of the classroom. As you discover new ways to volunteer in your community, bring your thoughts and ideas back to the classroom with you. Many of the topics your classes cover throughout the year are directly related to a number of issues that impact your local community. History, civics, economics—these subjects and more continue to impact your local community every day.
As you explore the various social causes you could support, don’t be afraid to be an active learner by participating in class discussions. Ask questions to learn more about the state of our world and be courageous enough to express your own views, thoughts, and idea for positive change. Your teachers will take notice and encourage you to continue getting involved through discussions and volunteer work. In the future, some may even write you letters of recommendation that highlight your passion and kindness.
4. Volunteer Your Time to Help Local Community Organizations
Volunteering as a high school student is a great way to make a difference in your community. However, you should also explore opportunities outside of the ones available through your school organizations and clubs.
Every town or city has a wide variety of volunteer organizations and opportunities you can easily donate your time to. From established centers that provide food, clothing, safety, and housing to the community to newer groups that champion multiple community projects, these organizations support causes such as:
- Animal shelters
- Natural parks and community parks
- Food pantries
- Local libraries
- Museums and historical landmarks
- Political campaigns
- Community athletic centers
- Local schools
- Retirement homes
- Hospitals
- Disaster recovery services
- Health-related services
You can choose one of these areas to advocate for, or you can lend your time to many different projects. The beauty of volunteering is that anyone with any interest and ability can make a positive impact on the lives of others. One project, one day, or even one hour is all it takes to change the world around you.
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